The LGBT community in Michiana is calling for Indiana lawmakers to pass a hate crime bill next year after police say a South Bend veteran was killed because he was gay.

Jodie Henderson was beat to death the night of Jan. 15. St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter said the man suspected of killing Henderson — Jabreeh Cash Davis-Martin — hit him with a piece of furniture and beat him after Davis-Martin learned Henderson had feelings for him.

• RELATED: Man charged with murder in connection with beating death of Jodie Henderson, March 22, 2016

Henderson’s killing underscores the need for Indiana to create tougher sentences for hate crimes, Eli Williams of the GLBT Resource Center of Michiana told our news partners ABC 57.

“We don’t have a hate crime law and these murders are not being held to a stricter standard is shameful and we need to work on that,” Williams told ABC 57.

Indiana is one of five states in America that does not have a hate crime law.

Indiana State Sen. Susan Glick (R-LaGrange County) proposed a hate crime bill during the Indiana 2016 legislative session, but it didn’t pass committee.

Read more about Glick’s proposal in the full story from ABC 57.